Movie weapons supervisor pleads not guilty to manslaughter in fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin
Aug 10, 2023, 9:47 AM
FILE - This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 23, 2021, used for the film “Rust.” On Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed agreed to forgo a preliminary hearing that would have provided court testimony from dozens of people, including eyewitnesses to Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The woman who oversaw the use of weapons on the movie set where Alec Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence, New Mexico court officials said.
Movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed waived her right to an arraignment on the charges in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie “Rust,” officials said Wednesday.
A state district judge tentatively scheduled a trial for December.
A defense attorney for Gutierrez-Reed has characterized it a tragic accident and says the weapons specialist committed no crime. Prosecutors allege Gutierrez-Reed was negligent in the handling of firearms and ammunition on the set.
“Rust” safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls has pleaded no contest to a charge of unsafe handling of a firearm and received a suspended sentence of six months’ probation.
In April, prosecutors dropped charges against Baldwin, who was pointing a gun at Hutchins when it went off, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza.
